Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus.



J. P. COLEMAN.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 14 19!].

Patented Sept. 4, 1917;

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I TTNTTED @TATE% JOHN P. COLEMAN, 0F EDGEWOODBOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE,PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- RATION OF TPENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-TBAFFIC-CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

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Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Sept. 4., 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Edgewood Borough, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRailway-Traiiie-Controlling Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to railway traiiic controlling apparatus, andparticularly to ap paratus for the control of railway switches and thelike.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention and willthen point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing in section oneform of valve and controlling apparatus therefor to which my inventionmay be applied. Fig. 2 is a view part of which is a fragmental sectionon the line IIII of Fig. 1 and the remainder of which is a diagrammaticrepresentation of a railway switch and an operating motor therefor. 3 isa diagrammatic view showing one arrangement of controlling circuits forthe apparatus shown in the preceding views, and embodying my invention.1

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of theseveral views.

Referring first to Fig. 2, the reference character A designates arailway switch. This switch isoperated by a fluid pressure motor B,which motor is governed by an electromagnetically controlled valveapparatus C shown in Fig. 1 and in section in Fig. 2.

The motor B,as here shown, comprises a cylinder 1 and a piston 2operable therein. The piston 2 is operatively connected with the railsof switch A through the medium of a suitable form of switch mechanismrepresented diagrammatically by the line 3.

The valve apparatus C, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a valve body5 provided with a valve chamber 8 in which is located a slide valve 9which reciprocates in suitable guides on a valve seat 10, as shown inFig. 2. The valve seat 10 is provided with three ports 11, 12 and 13, ofwhich port 12 commnni'cates directly with atmosphere, and ports 11 and13 communicate respectively with the left-hand and the right-hand endsof cylinder 1. The slide valve 9 is of the usual D-valve type having arecess 18, so that when the valve is in one extreme position (as shownin Fig. 2) it connects the righthand end of cylinder 1 with atmosphereand the lefthand end with valve chamber 8, whereas when the valve is inthe other extreme position it connects the righthand end of cylinder 1with chamber 8 and the left-hand end with atmosphere.

The valve body 5 is provided with another chamber 21 to which fluidpressure, usually air, is constantly supplied from a suitable sourcethrough a pipe 25. Fluid pressure is at times supplied from chamber 21to the valve chamber 8 through a valve 22 which is biased to the closedposition by a spring 23 and by the action of the fluid pressure inchamber 21 on the back of the valve. This valve is provided with astem24 extending into chamber 8 and by means of which the valve may beopened at times, as will hereinafter be explained.

The valve body 5 is also provided with a cylinder 33 in which a piston35 is adapted to reciprocate. Fluid pressure is supplied to the cylinder33 from chamber 21 through ports 27 and 27 and the supply is controlledby a valve device 29 which in turn is governed by an electromagnet L,hereinafter termed the lock magnet. Electromagnet L is provided with twowindings Z and Z either of which wheuenergized will actuate the armatureof the magnetto operate the valve 29. The valve device 29 connectscylinder 33 with atmosphere through opening 31, or with chamber 21,according as the lock magnet L is deenergized or energized. Piston 35 isprovided with a piston rod 35 which passes through a cylindrical openingin the valvebody and into the valve chamber 8, where it is onerativelyconnected with a reciprccable plate 39 by means of a button 40 on theend of the piston rod 35* and a jaw formed in the end of the plate. Thisplate 39 moves transversely to the direction of movement of the slidevalve 9, and performs two functions. viz.. to operate valve 22, and tomechanically lock the slide valve.

Considering the locking function first, the upper surface of the slidevalve 9 is provided with three spaced transverse lugs 41,

42 and 43, thus providing slots into which valve and s lock the valve inthe position WlllCll 1t occuples, as best shown in Fig.- 2.

Then, however, the piston 35 is moved by the admission of fluid pressureto cylinder 33, it moves plate 39 so that the tongue passes out of theslots in the slide valve whereupon the valve is free to be reversed.

3 The other function of this plate 39, viz., the

opening of valve22 is accomplished merely by engagement of theend of theplate with the stem 24; of valve '22. g

' When the lockmagiietL is deenergized so 'thatthe outer end of cylinder33 is con nected with atmosphere through a port 27 'andport 31, theaction of the fluid pressure in chamber 8 on piston rod 35-moves piston35 outwardly and the button lO in turn moves plate 39 to the lockingp'ositionpthus permitting valve 22 to seat, asshown in Fig.1. The actionof spring23 and of the fluid pressure in chamber 21' then holds valve22in the closed position, and after the pressure in chamber 8*hasgradually escaped prevents the accidental unlocking of slide valve 9.The area otpiston-35 is such,"however, that when fiuidpressure isadmitted to cylinder33 by the energization of magnet Lthe pressure 'on'this piston over-balances the combined forces acting on valve 22, sothat plate 39 is thenmoved to the unlocking position and valve 22isopened, thus admitting fluid pressure tochamber 8. Plate 39 and valve-22are, of course, immediately reversed upon the subsequent opening ofcylinder 33- to atmosphere.

The slidevalve is reciprocatedby a fluid pressure-motor deviceconstructed as follows: In-thevalve body 5 ar'etwo axially alinedcylinders l land 45, in which are located pistons lfi and 46respective1y; In tegral with pistonlti is a rod 47, and with I pistonefia-similar rod48, which rods pass through suitable stutling boxes in thevalve body and abut against the oppositeends of the slide valve 9. i Itwill be clear,therefore, that when the slide valve is unlocked, i-t maybe reciprocated by alternately admitting fluid pressure to cylinders tland 45. The supply of fluid pressure forthese cylinders is preferablytaken fromvalve chamber 8. Gylindertt is connected witlr this chamber byports 49 and 49 and the supply of fluid pressure to'this cylinder iscontrolled by-a valve device 53 which in turn is governed byanelectromagnet 51. Similarly, cylinder 45 is supplied by ports 50and50, and the supply is controlled by a valve device 54: governed by anelectromagnet 52. The arrange ment of eachvalve device 53 and 54, andits correspondin magnet is such that when the magnet is d eenerg1zed thcorresponding cylinder is connected with atmosphere through a port 17 or17, and that when the magnet is energized the corresponding cylinder isdisconnected from atmosphere and is connected with the valve chamber 8.

-R-eferring nowto .Fig. 3, I have here shown one arrangement of circuitsand contacts for the control of the apparatus shown in the'precedingviews. The electromagnets 51, 52' and'L are governed by a contact 57,which is operated by a manually operable lever 56, which lever is one ofa plurality of similarfleverscomprised in an interlock. ing machine. The"windings o'f the lock magnet-L are further controlled by acontact'device M, comprising a movable contact 4: which is operativelyconnected withthe switch operating -mechanism 3 represented in Fig.2,.and which-cooperates 'with'fixed contactsegments l and l Theoperation ofthe contactdevice M is such that when the motor B occupiesone'eXtreme position or the other contact 4 engages contact l or P. But:when the motor occupies an intermediate position, contact 45 engagesboththe contacts 4* and 4 It is understood that-in practice suitableindication apparatus will be employed for controlling themovements ofthelever contact 57 in accordancewith movements of the switch A, butin'thisview I have purposely omitted the I indication. apparatus and thecircuits'controlling' such apparatus in order to si mplify the drawing.

'One-terminalot magnet 51 isco'nnected' with a=norma-l wireN and oneterminal of magnet 52-is-connected with a reverse wire R. 'The remainingterminals of-these'magnets are connected with a common wire 0 by wires14: and 7 resp'ectively.- One terminal of a:battery-6 is connected withthe common wire 0 and the" otherterminal is connectedlwith contact 57 ,iwhich contact in turn engages witlrcontact 57 or 57 'w-hich'two lattercontacts are connected respectively with thenormal and reverse wires Nand'R. It will beseen from the circu'itsthus far described that magnet51 or magnet 52 will be energized acconding as contact 57 engages withfixed contact 57? or 57 a As hereinbetore explained, the magnet Lcomprises-two windings Z and.Z one terminal' elf-winding Z is connectedwiththe normal wire :N,:and oneoterminal of Z? is connected with thereverse wire-R. The remaining terminals ofthese windings are connectedrespectively with fixed contacts 4* and-4P.- Thisarrangement of controlof the lock magnet L is-such that when the switch A- I and thecontrolling :lever 56 coincide in position, both windings of-magnet Laredeener-gized whereas, when the controlling lever isrswung to reversetheposition of the switch, one winding on-the other of -magnet L becomesenergized and continues to be energized untilthe switch has completedits movement in response to such movement of the lever 56. i i

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: i

The switchA, as shown in Fig. 2, occupies what I will term the normalposition, and all parts of the apparatus connected thereto occupycorresponding positionsl When it is desired to reverse the position ofswitch A, the manual lever 56 (Fig. 3) is swung upwardly through aportion of its stroke until it is stopped by the indication apparatus insuch position that the movable contact57 is in engagement with fixedcontact 57 Winding Z of lock magnetL is now energized and theenergization of this magnet causes the admission of fluid pressure fromchamber 21tocylinder 33 thereby causing operation of the piston 35 tounlock the slide valve 9 and open valve 22, thus admitting fluidpressure to the valve chamber 8. Magnet 51 is now deenergized so thatvalve 53 reverses to connect cylinder 44 with atmosphere. Magnet 52 isenergized so that valve 5-1 is reversed to admit fluid pressure from thechamber 8' to cylinder 45 whereby the slide valve 9 is shifted to theleft, as viewed in Fig. 1. This causes the admission of fluid pressureto the right hand end of cylinder Z, as viewed in Fig. 2, so that switchA is then moved to the reverse position through the medium of the switchoperating mechanism When the movement of the switch is completed and theswitch has been properly locked, contact 4 engages with contact d andbecomes disengaged from contact 4?, so that winding Z becomesdenergized. Lock magnet L is now totally deenergized so that valve 29reverses and disconnects cylinder 33 from the source of fluid pressureand opens this cylinder to atmosphere, whereupon piston 35 reverses toclose valve 22 and lock the slide valve 9 in its extreme left-handposition, as viewed in Fig. 1.

The operation of the apparatus for movement of the switch A from itsreverse to its normal position is similar to the operation justexplained, winding Z of lock magnet L being energized during suchoperation.

One feature of the apparatus hereinbefore described, is that while theswitch and its controlling lever coincide in position, the lock magnet Lis deenergized so'that it is impossible to cause movement of switch A bymanipulation of valves 53 and 5a or by improper energization of magnets51 and 52. If, however, an unauthorized attempt is made to shift theswitch away from the position corresponding to the position of itscontrolling lever by means other than such lever, magnet L will at oncebecome energized and will admit fluid pressure to chamber 8 and so tothe operating motor B, thus causing this motor to oppose such attempt.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of railwaytraffic controlling apparatus embodying my invention, it is understoodthat various changes and modifications may be made therein within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: i

1. In combination, a railway traffic controlling device, a fluidpressure motor for moving said device, two valves controlling said motorto cause reverse movements thereof, two electromagnets one for eachvalve, a lever, contacts and connections controlled thereby forenergizing one electromagnet or the other, and means controlled jointlyby said contacts and connections and by said motor for interrupting thesupply of fluid pressure to the motor when the motor and thelevercoincide in position.

2. In combination, a railway traflic controlling device, a fluidpressure motor for moving said device, two valves controlling said motorto cause reverse movements thereof, two electromagnets one for eachvalve, a lever, contacts and connections controlled thereby forenergizing one electromagnet or the other, and means controlled jointlyby said contacts and connections and by said motor for interrupting thesupply of fluid pressure to the motor upon completion of a movement ofthe motor in response to a movement of the lever.

3; In combination, a railway traific controlling device, a fluidpressure motor for moving said device, two valves controlling said motorto cause reverse movements thereof, two electromagnets one for eachvalve, a lever, contacts and connections controlled thereby forenergizing one electromagnet or the other, and means controlled jointlyby said contacts and connections and by said motor for preventinginadvertent movement of the motor by unwarranted ma nipulation of saidvalves when the lever and the motor coincide in position.

4. In combination, a railway traiiic controlling device, a fluidpressure motor tor moving said device, two valves controlling said motorto cause reverse movements thereof, two electromagnets one for eachvalve, a lock magnet for also controlling said motor, a lever, contactsand connections controlled by said lever and by said motor forenergizing said lock magnet when the lever and the motor do not coincidein position, said lever controlled contacts also serving to energize oneof said valve controlling electromagnets or the other.

5. In combination, a railway traiiic controlling. tlevice, a fluidpressure motor for movinglsaid device, two valves controlling said motorto cause reverse movements th ref of, twmelectnomagnets,oneafoneachwvalve, a lever, contacts hand -c0n-necb1ons controlledthereby for KGDBIgLZIIIQ one electromagnet; or

the, other, wand a :lock magnet, controlled jointly by; said contactsand connections and by Sflldz motor for preventing movement; of said,motor when] the motor and the 1 lever coincide in position. a

2 6'. "In combination, a 1 railway .trafliccontrolling device, a fluidpressurevmotorztor moving; said device, two valves'contr'olling saidmotor to. cause reverse movements thereof, two. electromagnets one foreach valve, a lever, -contacts and connections 4 controlled therebyforpenergizing oneaelectromagnet or the other, a [lock magnetslhavingtwo windings,;and meanswcontrolled: by said contacts and connections andbysaid motor for I energizing one of said windings or the otherwhen'the' motor occupies either, extreme positionand the'lever is innon-coinciding position, for deenergizing -lO'0tl1-z of said windingswhen the lever and l the; motor, I coincide in extremeqaositions.

71.1111 combination, a 4 railway atraflic controlling .device, a vfluid,5 pressure 1 motor? for causing reversemovements of said device, anormal and. a-reverserva1ve -for controlling said motor, amormal-andareverse electro magnet r for controllingwsaid two valves re spectively,.a normal and a reverse -\wire,-and a; common Wire, 0ne -terminal= of,cache electromagnet: being: constantlyconnected with comprising two:windings, onetterminal of I one windinm being 1 connected *Wltllx thenormal w-ire andone terminal of, the other windingQbeingK connected;with? the reverse-wire, and contacts: aoontrolled by "i the motor forconnecting the ren'ia-ining terminal of one of saidwindingsi,ornthe.-other with the common wire according, as; the motoris; in one extremepositionor the; other, aand for 1 connecting both i of said,last-mentioned; terminals withi the common- Wire when the motor occupies,an intermediate position 1 the windingwhich is thus toonneeted with thecom anon wire-z when the motori is in an extreme positioni beingithe-one iwhichiis not connected with; i the source-10f current through, thenormal or reverse wire when; thevlever occuipiesw the; corresp onding-extreme ,position.

In Y testimony :whereof {I ia flix my signature in presence,oi /twowitnesses. :J@HN P.QOLEMAN. Witnesses:

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I .R GEOBGEHRU MA Copies of this oatentrmaybei obtaineduforrfivecentseach,byhedclreesing the 1;.Qqmm1ssione1aqf, Barents,

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